Rezidor SAS, one of the fastest-growing hospitality brands in the world, has gained international recognition for its Responsible Business (RB) initiatives by winning the Worldwide Hospitality Award for Environmental Protection & Sustainable Development. The awards ceremony, which took place in Paris recently, highlighted Rezidor's strategic group-wide approach to changing mentalities and practices in favour of improved environmental and social performance.
Since its inception in 2001, the group's RB campaign has seen an enormous success. The comprehensive programme takes into account social, environmental and economic performance and covers all aspects of hotel operations, including guests, staff, property owners, government, suppliers and the local community.
Pia Heidenmark-Cook, Corporate Director of Environmental & Social Affairs for Rezidor SAS, said: "The Worldwide Hospitality Award is a wonderful recognition of our hotels' hard work in implementing good environmental and social practices in their everyday work. Our RB programme has led to an increased awareness about social and environmental issues, as well as a sense of pride amongst our employees."
Radisson SAS Hotels and Resorts, part of Rezidor SAS Hospitality, manages 13 properties in the Middle East. Each of these hotels has a designated RB coordinator who conducts in-depth training for every employee.
"Being responsible means making a real difference to the communities in which we operate. Every Radisson SAS hotel in the Middle East ensures that the initiatives they support are relevant for the particular needs and issues of the region," said Jean-Marc Busato, Vice President Middle East, Rezidor SAS Hospitality.
"In the last six months alone we have seen a can collection campaign at the Radisson Hotel, Sharjah and the introduction of a waste management programme at the Radisson SAS Resort, Taba as well as region-wide support for the recent Hotel Environment Action Month. All of these initiatives have been met with enthusiasm and huge support, but this is really just the beginning. We have a great deal more that we want to achieve, and winning this award has made us more determined to expand and refine our RB programme."
Caption: Kurt Ritter, President & CEO, Rezidor SAS Hospitality, takes centre stage at the Worldwide Hospitality Awards.
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Notes to Editors:
Radisson SAS Hotels & Resorts, part of Rezidor SAS Hospitality, currently operates 140 hotels in 37 countries in Europe, the Middle East and Africa, with another 30 projects under development. Radisson SAS is a first class hotel brand with key differentiators such as the 100% Guest Satisfaction Guarantee and the Yes I Can spirit of service. For more information, visit www.radissonsas.com
Rezidor SAS Hospitality, one of the fastest growing hospitality companies in the world, has a portfolio of five brands. Rezidor SAS is the sole franchisor in Europe, the Middle East and Africa for the Carlson brands: Radisson, Park Inn, Regent and Country Inn in addition to developing a new lifestyle hotel brand Cerruti, a joint initiative with the international fashion house. Rezidor SAS currently includes 233 hotels in operation and under development in 46 countries. The company aims to include 700 hotels under the different brands by 2012. For more information on Rezidor SAS and its five brands, visit www.rezidorsas.com.
For further Press information, contact:
Robin Duff, MCS/Action,
Dubai Media City,
Dubai,
United Arab Emirates
Tel: +971 43902980
Fax: +971 4 3908161,
Email: robin.d@actionprgroup.com
For further information on Radisson SAS Hotels & Resorts, contact:
Esther van Bemmelen
Tel: +971 4 3900082
Fax: +971 4 3908170,
Email: Esther.VanBemmelen@RadissonSAS.com
© Press Release 2004
